Bend It Like Beckham

"Sometimes, to follow your dreams... you've got to bend the rules!"

Aug 1 2003 PG-13 1h 52m
Comedy, Drama, Romance

Jess Bhamra, the daughter of a strict Indian couple in London, is not permitted to play organized soccer, even though she is 18. When Jess is playing for fun one day, her impressive skills are seen by Jules Paxton, who then convinces Jess to play for her semi-pro team. Jess uses elaborate excuses to hide her matches from her family while also dealing with her romantic feelings for her coach, Joe.

Plot

A kaleidoscope of color and culture clash humorously as an Indian family in London tries to raise their soccer-playing daughter in a traditional way. Unlike tarty elder sister Pinky, who is preparing for an Indian wedding and a lifetime of cooking the perfect chapatti, Jess' dream is to play soccer professionally like her hero David Beckham. Wholeheartedly against Jess' unorthodox ambition, her parents eventually reveal that their reservations have more to do with protecting her than with holding her back. When Jess is forced to make a choice between tradition and her beloved sport, her family must decide whether to let her chase her dream...and a soccer ball.

Written by

Gurinder Chadha, Guljit Bindra, Paul Mayeda Berges

Directed by

Gurinder Chadha

Cast

Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley, Jonathan Rhys Meyers

Crew

View crew

Production Countries

United States of America, United Kingdom, Germany

Production Companies

Road Movies, Roc Media, Bend It Films, Kintop Pictures

Languages

English

Awards

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award17 wins & 20 nominations total

Trailers
Bend It Like Beckham - Trailer
Bend It Like Beckham (2002) ORIGINAL TRAILER
Teasers
Bend It Like Beckham (2002) ORIGINAL TRAILER
Scores
# of Votes
122,396
Average Rating
6.7 out of 10
Metascore
66
Popularity
NA